ABSTRACT
Dysfunction of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a significant pathological event in many neurological diseases. Many techniques have been developed to study the integrity of the BBB. Histological measurements are used in animal models of neurological diseases. With imaging modalities like single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) it is possible to measure the integrity of the BBB in vivo, in animals and humans. This chapter will review the most commonly used methods to qualitatively and quantitatively measure the integrity of the BBB, with a special emphasis on in vivo imaging techniques.
